If we already knew that Nintendo was going to put two large consoles in its catalog on the shelf, this time, the Japanese manufacturer has a very specific date. It hurts…
Earlier this month, 3DS and Wii U owners were faced with some bad news. Nintendo has initiated the deactivation of online gaming services for these consoles, affecting some games. At that time, the impact was not global. However, Nintendo recently set a definitive date to end online services on all games, with the notable exception of only two titles. It’s the end of an entire era and it’s completely established.
Nintendo: the end of many games
Therefore, on April 8, 2024 at 01:00 (French time), online play and other features using online communication will end for software and games on Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. This also includes gaming online cooperative, Internet rankings and data distribution. Nintendo still wants to reassure everyone: players will still be able to use features and game modes that do not require online communication, which is already good news.
The other nice surprise is that it will still be possible to use online services for the following software, but this may also end at some point in the future.
- Pokémon Bank
- Poké Transporter
As a reminder, Pokémon Bank is a paid service offering online storage space for Pokémon, allowing players to deposit, store and manage up to 3,000 Pokémon in personal boxes on the cloud. This application is compatible with many Pokémon games on Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo DS consoles. Poké Transporter, on the other hand, is a companion application to Pokémon Bank that facilitates the transfer of Pokémon from specific versions of Pokémon games, such as the series on Nintendo DS (for example, Pokémon Black and White), to the Pokémon Bank.
Farewell to the queens
With a few exceptions, online services will therefore end for all Nintendo 3DS and Wii U software. Big N specifies that for the foreseeable future, it will still be possible to download update data, re-download purchased software, and downloadable content from the Nintendo eShop.
Nintendo also closed the 3DS and Wii U online stores last March (2023), which has prevented players from acquiring new games for several months. So you only have a few days left to reminisce about the good old days with lots of games. It’s still a bit sad…